Are you at risk for hepatitis C? About 3.2 million Americans have the chronic liver disease, but most don’t know it. That’s because it exhibits few noticeable symptoms. In fact, you need a blood test to diagnose it. Find out if you could be infected and how much you know about this potentially fatal condition. Test yourself with this quiz…

Only people who inject drugs or did in the past are at risk of hepatitis C.

Please select an option

truefalse

Question: 7 of 10

8.

A pregnant woman can pass the virus to her baby.

Please select an option

truefalse

Question: 8 of 10

9.

Getting vaccinated for influenza and hepatitis A can reduce your chances of getting hepatitis C and of spreading it to others.

Please select an option

truefalse

Question: 9 of 10

10.

Four out of 5 people with the hepatitis C virus have no symptoms until they’re diagnosed with potentially fatal liver damage.

Please select an option

truefalse

Question: 10 of 10

1.

Hepatitis C is caused by the same virus that causes hepatitis B and A.

Here's how everyone else voted:

true

15%(votes: 517)

false

78%(votes: 2631)

False. Hepatitis A, B and C are caused by different viruses. The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the only one that causes hepatitis C.

False. Hepatitis A, B and C are caused by different viruses. The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the only one that causes hepatitis C.

Question: 1 of 10

2.

Hepatitis C symptoms can include fatigue, joint pain, loss of appetite, hives and jaundice (yellowing of the eyes and skin).

Here's how everyone else voted:

true

92%(votes: 3093)

false

8%(votes: 277)

True. These are all symptoms of hepatitis C. Other symptoms may include: darker-colored urine, loose or chalky-colored stools, nausea, itching skin, abdominal pain and aches and pains that you can’t attribute to another cause.

True. These are all symptoms of hepatitis C. Other symptoms may include: darker-colored urine, loose or chalky-colored stools, nausea, itching skin, abdominal pain and aches and pains that you can’t attribute to another cause.

Question: 2 of 10

3.

Hepatitis C is transmitted by sharing food or drinks with an infected person, by kissing them or sneezing or coughing around them.

Here's how everyone else voted:

true

17%(votes: 580)

false

83%(votes: 2790)

False. Coming into contact with an infected person’s blood is the only way to contract the hepatitis C virus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). HCV cannot be spread through casual contact, including shaking hands, sharing food, drinks or utensils, kissing, coughing, hugging or sneezing, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC).

False. Coming into contact with an infected person’s blood is the only way to contract the hepatitis C virus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). HCV cannot be spread through casual contact, including shaking hands, sharing food, drinks or utensils, kissing, coughing, hugging or sneezing, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC).

Question: 3 of 10

4.

There is a vaccine for hepatitis C.

Here's how everyone else voted:

true

33%(votes: 1122)

false

67%(votes: 2248)

False. Vaccines have been developed for the hepatitis A virus (HAV) and the hepatitis B virus (HBV), and they are recommended for children, the CDC says. But despite years of ongoing research, no vaccine has yet been created that can make you immune to hepatitis C, according to the CDC.

False. Vaccines have been developed for the hepatitis A virus (HAV) and the hepatitis B virus (HBV), and they are recommended for children, the CDC says. But despite years of ongoing research, no vaccine has yet been created that can make you immune to hepatitis C, according to the CDC.

Question: 4 of 10

5.

Hepatitis C can be cured with treatment.

Here's how everyone else voted:

true

57%(votes: 1923)

false

43%(votes: 1447)

True, at long last! The FDA approved a new drug in December 2013, called sofosbuvir, which “offers a cure rate of 95%” without the nasty side effects of interferon (which included severe flu symptoms, extreme fatigue and depression), says Sanjeev Arora, M.D., professor of medicine at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center. The medication works by stopping the hepatitis C virus from replicating itself. Sofosbuvir treatment lasts just 12 weeks, rather than the more common 48-week regimen of interferon injections and ribavirin pills for Hepatitis C’s “genotype 1.” About 70% to 90% of Americans infected with HCV have genotype 1, which is the hardest subtype to treat, Dr. Arora says.

True, at long last! The FDA approved a new drug in December 2013, called sofosbuvir, which “offers a cure rate of 95%” without the nasty side effects of interferon (which included severe flu symptoms, extreme fatigue and depression), says Sanjeev Arora, M.D., professor of medicine at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center. The medication works by stopping the hepatitis C virus from replicating itself. Sofosbuvir treatment lasts just 12 weeks, rather than the more common 48-week regimen of interferon injections and ribavirin pills for Hepatitis C’s “genotype 1.” About 70% to 90% of Americans infected with HCV have genotype 1, which is the hardest subtype to treat, Dr. Arora says.

True. Hepatitis C is a virus, or infection, that causes inflammation and liver disease. Hepatitis C is potentially fatal because the liver is a vital organ that normally helps digest food, fights infection, removes harmful chemicals from the blood, and stores nutrients, vitamins and energy. Over time, between 1% and 5% of people with hepatitis C will die from liver cancer or cirrhosis, according to the CDC.

True. Hepatitis C is a virus, or infection, that causes inflammation and liver disease. Hepatitis C is potentially fatal because the liver is a vital organ that normally helps digest food, fights infection, removes harmful chemicals from the blood, and stores nutrients, vitamins and energy. Over time, between 1% and 5% of people with hepatitis C will die from liver cancer or cirrhosis, according to the CDC.

Question: 6 of 10

7.

Only people who inject drugs or did in the past are at risk of hepatitis C.

Here's how everyone else voted:

true

7%(votes: 237)

false

93%(votes: 3133)

False. Your risk of contracting HCV is much higher if you use injectable illegal drugs or have multiple sex partners, the NDDIC says. You’re also at higher risk if you:

False. Your risk of contracting HCV is much higher if you use injectable illegal drugs or have multiple sex partners, the NDDIC says. You’re also at higher risk if you:

Question: 7 of 10

8.

A pregnant woman can pass the virus to her baby.

Here's how everyone else voted:

true

86%(votes: 2914)

false

14%(votes: 456)

True. But it’s rare. “Hepatitis C is rarely passed from a pregnant woman to her baby,” the CDC states. “About 4 of every 100 infants born to mothers with hepatitis C become infected with the virus.” The risk is greater if the mother has both HIV infection and hepatitis C.

True. But it’s rare. “Hepatitis C is rarely passed from a pregnant woman to her baby,” the CDC states. “About 4 of every 100 infants born to mothers with hepatitis C become infected with the virus.” The risk is greater if the mother has both HIV infection and hepatitis C.

Question: 8 of 10

9.

Getting vaccinated for influenza and hepatitis A can reduce your chances of getting hepatitis C and of spreading it to others.

Here's how everyone else voted:

true

26%(votes: 866)

false

74%(votes: 2504)

False. The many different viruses responsible for influenza are not related to HCV. Inoculation against the hepatitis A virus (HAV) does not protect you from the virus that causes hepatitis C, according to the CDC.

False. The many different viruses responsible for influenza are not related to HCV. Inoculation against the hepatitis A virus (HAV) does not protect you from the virus that causes hepatitis C, according to the CDC.

Question: 9 of 10

10.

Four out of 5 people with the hepatitis C virus have no symptoms until they’re diagnosed with potentially fatal liver damage.

Here's how everyone else voted:

true

89%(votes: 3007)

false

11%(votes: 359)

True. After a person is infected with HCV, “approximately 80% of people do not exhibit any symptoms,” the World Health Organization reports. People who have acute symptoms may run constant or intermittent fevers, and experience fatigue, nausea, decreased appetite, joint pain and jaundice, which shows up as yellowish skin and whites of the eyes, according to WHO. Cirrhosis of the liver takes a long time to develop, and is the end result in between 5% and 20% of HCV patients who develop chronic infection long after their initial contact with the virus.

True. After a person is infected with HCV, “approximately 80% of people do not exhibit any symptoms,” the World Health Organization reports. People who have acute symptoms may run constant or intermittent fevers, and experience fatigue, nausea, decreased appetite, joint pain and jaundice, which shows up as yellowish skin and whites of the eyes, according to WHO. Cirrhosis of the liver takes a long time to develop, and is the end result in between 5% and 20% of HCV patients who develop chronic infection long after their initial contact with the virus.